Stopper-fastener



(No Modell) W. R. SHURTLEFF.

STOPPER PASTENER. No. 556,378. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

mmzzw a pninmmo'roumammumuqg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM R. .SHURTLEFF, OF OOONTO, IVISCONSIN.

STOPPER-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 556,378, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed June 10,1895. Serial No. 552,259. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. SHURTLEFF, of Oconto, in the county of Oconto and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cork-Retainers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

Myinvention has relation to improvements in cork-retainers.

The object is to provide a device for holding the corks of bottles in place against the internal pressure generated by the liquid within the bottles, which device shall be simple and durable in construction, inexpensive of production, and easy of manipulation.

lVith the above object and others in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper portion of a bottle with my improvements applied, showing the screwhook turned downwardly. Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, a part being in section and showing the screw-hook turned upwardly. Fig. 3-is a view at right angles to Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a plan view.

Like numerals of reference denote like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates an ordinary form of bottle to which my improvements are applied. Encircling the neck of the bottle, below the annular shoulder 6, is a wire 7. This wire is twisted at diametrically-opposite points to form loops 8 8, and the ends of the wire are united by twisting said ends together, as clearly shown in the drawings.

The numeral 9 indicates a cap which is adapted to be fitted over the top of the cork 10. This cap has rigid therewith and projecting downwardly from one edge thereof an arm 11, which arm at its lower end is provided with an eye adapted to engage the loop 8. Adjacent to the opposite edge of the cap and projecting upwardly therefrom is a lug 12, having a transverse threaded aperture 13 therethrough.

The numeral 14 indicates an arm which has its upper end bent over to form a long loop or hook. The lower end of this arm is provided with an eye adapted to engage the loop 8 of the neck-wire.

Engaging the threaded aperture of the lug 5 5 12 is a screw 15. The unthreaded portion of this screw is curved slightly, and its outer end is bent around to form a hook or loop 16, the extremity thereof extending down toward the main portion at an incline, as indicated at 16.

The mode of operation of my invention is exceedingly simple. After the stopple has been inserted in the bottle the cap is first thrown over the top of said stopple. The screw is now turned down to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and the looped end of the arm 14 made to engage over the curved hook portion of the screw. Said screw is now turned up to the position shown in Fig. 2, and during the operation of turning the terminal inclined portion 16 acts as a wedge against one of the strands of the loop or hook of arm 14, forcing said loop or hook toward the neck of the bottle and upon the less curved portion of the screw. When the hook of the screw is finally turned to the position shown in Fig. 2, the extremity of the inclined portionbears against the loop or hook of arm 14 and firmly holds the same to place. In unlocking the cap all that is necessary is to again turn the hook portion 16 of the screw downwardly, when of course the loop or hook of arm 14 maybe readily slipped off the curved portion of hook 16.

It will be apparent that a retainer constructed in accordance with my invention will have the effect of most firmly securing the cork in the bottle against being forced out by the internal pressure caused by the efiervescing character of the liquid within the bottle. The cap effectually prevents any moving out of place or swelling of the cork, and hence the contents of the bottle are thereby preserved. Furthermore, the device is most easily and readily manipulated, and is strong, durable, and safe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cork-retainer, the combination, of a neck-band, a cap provided with a depending arm connected to the neck-band, and also provided on its upper surface with a lug having a threaded horizontal opening therein, an arm connected at another point of the neck-band, and provided at its upper end with a hook, and a screw adapted to engage the threaded opening of the lug, and having an enlargement at its projecting outer end,'said screw adapted to be turned so as to throw the enlargement downwardly to admit of the engagement of the hook of the arm thereover, and after engagement of the hook, said screw adapted to be turned so as to throw the enlargement upwardly to hold said hook in locked engagement, substantially as described.

2. In a cork-retainer, the combination, of a neck-band, a cap provided with a depending arm connected to the neck-band, and also provided on its upper surface with a lug having a threaded horizontal opening therein, an arm connected at another point of the neck-band, and provided at its upper end with a hook, and a screw adapted to engage the threaded opening of the lug, and having a curved e11- largement at its outer projecting end, said screw adapted to be turned so as to throw the enlargement downwardly to admit of the engagementof the hook of the arm thereover, and after engagement of the hook, said screw adapted to be turned so as to throw the enlargement upwardly to hold said hook in locked engagement, the curved form of the enlargement facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the hook thereover, sub stantially as described. a

3. In a cork-retainer, the combination, of a neck-band, a cap provided with a depending arm connected to the neck-band, and also provided with a lug having a threaded horizontal opening therein, an arm connected at one end to another point of the neck-band, and provided at its upper end with a hook, and a screw engaging the threaded opening of the lug, the outer projecting end of said screw being bent into loop form, the extremity of said loop extending down to the main portion of the screw at an incline, said screw adapted to be turned so as to throw the loop downwardly to admit of the engagement of the hook of the arm therewith, and after engagement of the hook, said screw adapted to be turned so as to throw its loop upwardly to hold the hook of the arm in locked engagement, the inclined extremity of the loop, when said loop is in the process of being turned upwardly to lock the hook of the arm, adapted to engage said hook and force the same into locked engagement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM R. SHURTLEFF. Witnesses SoL G. PELKEY, F. H. BRAZEAU. 

